TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 38, 18 September 1902, Page 19

TIMARU.

(From our own correspondent.")

The losal branch of the Hibernian Society held a social on Thursday last in the boys' schoolroom and it was patronised by a large attendance. The amusements provided were a progreshive euchre contest and vocal and instrumental music. The entertainment was opened by Miss Eileen Dennehy playing a selection of Irish Airs, two vooal numbers being given during the evening by Mias Arscott, a vieitor, the items being warmly applauded. The euchre contest was won by Miss McKennah and Mr T. Mara, who secured each a very nice prize presented to them by Mr P. Kane. The proceeds of the Social will be addel to the fund for defraying the expenses of the local branch in connection with the vihit of the representative delfgates of the Hibernian Society who hold their triennial meeting in Timaru next year. The Rev. Father Tubman on bunday thanked the Altar Society for their substantial assistance in supplying furnishings, etc., for church purposes at a cost of something like £20. He eulogised the work done by the sodality and complimented them on their success. His Lordship Bishop Grimes pays his episcopal visitation to the parish on next Sunday. On last Sunday his Lordship visited Temuka, administering the Sacrament of Confirmation to a large number of children in the morning, and in the afternoon proceeded to Pleasant Point and also administered the Sacrament there. The Rev. Father O'ConneJl passed through to Christchurch from Waimate on Tuesday last. Father O'Connell spent five years in Waimate and was the recipient of a purse of sovereigns on Saturday from the parishioner", by whom he will be greatly mis6ed. The Hibernian Society there loses their founder and first president and one who took an active and earnest interest in Hibernianism. After a state of dormancy for 12 months the local parish tennis club shows signs after its rest of a pleasing activity. A strong club has now been formed and suitable officers appointed so that with the grounds and plant in a fair s'latc of repair a most successful season may be anticipated. Ping pong is the factor that has produced this result, the players in that infectious game wibhing to extend their operations during the Bummer evenings from a ping pong table to a tennis court. The club numbers about 50 members, the officers being as follows :— Patron, Rev. Fabher Tubman ; president, Mr T. Lynch ; vice-presidents, Messrs H. Geaney, M. Mullin, Jno. O'Rorke, M. O'Meeerhan, T. Burns, J. Rielly, D. Mahoney, O. O'Meeght»n, and J. Hole ; treasurer, Mr Manges, and secretary Mr T. Quinn ; committee, the secretary and treasurer with Messrs O'Conner, Mulvey, J. Yenning, and Mir-ses E. McGuinness and J. McArtier. The subscription fee was fixed at gentlemen, .">s ; ladies, 2s 6d. Authority was given to the committee to proceed at once with the neoesssary preliminaries for opening the season. It ia a souroo of great satisfaction in the district that the Government are treating with the proprietor* of the Levels Fstate for 48 300 acres for Lands Settlement purpose". Thif will be an immense boon tv the district and wil' be a ce^-mio" to the pcr-istent cry made election afier election for the cut'iog up of tho Levels.

Six thousand acres of the Stratanan estate and 2000 acres of the Strathdllan estate are also under the consideration of the Land Board. It is more than probable that tha terms of sale between the Government and the companies will be arranged satisfactorily and a most beneficial result accrue to the district The meeting of the Farmers' Union held during the week may -be truly termed a fiasco. As one member said it was no use in carrying important resolutions as they would lay themselves open to be classed in the same category as the ' three tailors of Tooley street.' The constitution of the Union seems to be vague and indefinite, or the personnel of the directorate must be wanting in management, as the uniou has lost half its members during its brief career, one speaker pointing out that the membership had decreased from 400 to oue h.»lf that number. Evidently < L .f>e functions or power of the union to help the farmers do not invite the confidence of the latter and some radical change must be effected to make the union a success in South Canterbury.